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Smoking With Crohn's
Price: £20.00
A brilliant first collection from the man John Hegley calls ‘the cream of Devon poets’
In 2002, as an alternative means of therapy to excessive drinking and jay-walking in South London traffic, George Chopping started writing. At first he kept a journal, noting daily observations and recording a satirical account of his views of society and of his place within it. A year and two very short stories later, he had discovered his passion for words, and particularly poetry. Poems, after all, are even shorter short stories… and he’s self-confessedly ‘quite lazy’.
Lightheartedly describing his experiences of living with Crohn’s disease, drifting in and out of minimum wage jobs, spying on waterfowl from his narrowboat home, and peoplewatching in pubs, shops, trains and cafes, George Chopping’s poems appealed to everyone who heard him read them – even those who did not consider themselves poetically inclined. Soon, he found himself on stage so frequently that he was able to give up his glittering career as a shelf filler for a major supermarket and become a full-time poet, performing his work around the country – which people seemed to like.
The Video
Diary Extract
The Pitch
In 2002, as an alternative means of therapy to excessive drinking and jay-walking in South London traffic, I started writing. At first I kept a journal, noting daily observations and recording a satirical account of my wry and positively cynical views of society and my place within it. A year and two very short stories later, I had discovered my passion for words and particularly poetry. Poems, after all, in my humble opinion, are even shorter short stories… and I'm quite lazy.
My priority has always been to make my writing simple and accessible whilst I lightheartedly describe my experiences of living with Crohn's disease and the endless battles I have with myself as I drift in and out of minimum wage jobs and hospital.
As much on page as on stage, my appeal tends to be to a broader audience, including those who may not consider themselves poetically inclined. Flailing around in the pits of illiteracy, I make up my own words and often misspell or poorly punctuate those that are already in existence. But, with the clichéd excuse of 'poetic license', I continue to scrawl.
Since being named "the cream of Devon poets" by John Hegley, I've decided to stick my jam on the scone, so to speak, and finally get my poems bound.
I would love to have my poems published. Please.
The Excerpt
Here is a taster of what is to come. A mere canapé of the digestible feast that is to follow. Bon appetit.
The Author
George is a poet from Torquay. A few years ago he left a glittering career as a shelf filler for a major supermarket and began to perform his work around the country, which people seem to like - John Hegley has called him "the cream of Devon poets".
George has lots of swimming certificates but since he's been defecating into a bag he tends not to swim so much. He has a strong dislike for people sitting next to him on trains whilst he writes and will only attend weddings that have a spit-roasted suckling pig and an unlimited supply of fresh baps.
He has a full driving licence with lots of endorsements, a Welcome Host Certificate, seven GCSE’s at grade C, Crohn’s Disease and, at times, very low self esteem.
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